This Day in TV History: June 24

On this day in 1963, the Password was "home." "Will you take me home, please, Mr. Ludden?"

Allen Ludden appeared on his flagship game show Password with his then-new wife, Betty White. It was their first time on-screen as a married couple.

Remembering Game Show Pioneer Bob Stewart

On Friday, the television world lost a true legend. Bob Stewart, the creator and producer of game shows such as The Price is Right, Password, To Tell The Truth, and Pyramid, has passed away at the age of 91.

GSN: More Schedule Changes

There are apparently more schedule changes coming starting May 18th:

CHANGES LISTED ONLY:

10:30 am $25,000 Pyramid (CBS 1982-88, replaces Family Feud (Combs syndie, 1998-94))
11:00 am Bingo America (replaces Let’s Make A Deal (syndie 1971-77))
11:30 am Whammy! (GSN, 2002-03, replaces $25,000 Pyramid (CBS 1982-88))

These seem to contradict with some of the ones that are taking place in June.

I love The $25,000 Pyramid… it’s one of the things acquired lately on GSN along with $100,000 Pyramid, original Password, and Hollywood Squares that I enjoy. The show following Super Password at 10 doesn’t sound bad. But it is so typical that they pull the version of Feud that’s airing the least out of all of them. I mean we can’t sacrifice ONE lousy Karn airing? Not one? Why can’t they show this version from start to finish? And boo to Let’s Make a Deal leaving earlier than intended; at least on weekdays. Bingo America taking its place? Blah. Whammy! is now scheduled to move to 11:30 am. Oh joy. Now I REALLY can’t wait to find the remote and turn it to Price.

This is looking more and more like Dark Period 3.0...

GSN: More About The March Schedule Change

More details have come about March 30th’s schedule change thanks to the PDF files at Buzzer, and wow, I could not be more excited!

The $25,000 Pyramid episodes will be 1985-86, new to GSN and haven’t been run in well over a decade since USA had game shows as apart of its schedule. I looked at the episode guide and there are some really interesting and fun celebs. Markie Post, Nipsey Russell, Melody Thomas-Scott, Bill Cullen, Florence Henderson, and even Bronson Pinchot. And there are some pretty memorable moments; the 1968 Chevrolet Chevette blooper, and Tom Poston and his contestant partner getting $0 in the winner’s circle (apparently contrary to popular belief is not the first time that occurred, but still, can’t wait to see it in even better quality). Can’t wait! I’ve always preferred daytime Pyramid, and while I was hoping for the earlier episodes, this is still a great surprise and I’m ever so excited about it! Good job, GSN!

The $100,000 Pyramid episodes are from season 3. I’m actually a tad disappointed because I was hoping for season 1, but still, this season in particular hasn’t been seen on GSN in quite a while, and I know many people at this point would rather see this than season 2, which first resurfaced back in ‘05.

Hollywood Squares episodes are all Bergeron, from season 1, which apparently haven’t been seen on GSN in years. I am really eager about this too, as I love this version of the show and I haven’t seen much of the early years of the show since they originally aired. This will always be my favorite version of the show. Tom and the gang had me rolling from start to finish.

Password in the overnight are daytime color episodes from 1966-67, which haven‘t been seen since 2002. I’ve always wanted to see more of this era of the show! However, Super Password on the weekends starts from the beginning. Eh, not too thrilled about this. I guess another opportunity to catch any episodes that may have been missed.

Chain Reaction on the weekends will still be Lane's. Blah.

I’ve never had GSN when they showed any of color Password, first season Bergeron Squares, or $25,000 Pyramid on a regular basis. I’m still disappointed that Press Your Luck, Card Sharks, and the black and white hour are leaving, but these latest acquisitions from Sony make for some GREAT consolation. Only less than 3 weeks away!

GSN: Upcoming Things From The Vault

Card Sharks this weekend on GSN will have a couple of episodes that are definitely VCR/DVR/TiVo worthy. One being Mark Goodson’s cameo appearance on Bob Eubanks’ version, at 9:00 am on Saturday. Sunday at 9:30 will be the last episode of the Bill Rafferty version. As much as I love it to death, it has had a really nice healthy run on GSN throughout the past nearly 4 years and could use a bit of a rest. And the following weekend on the 31st it will be replaced with the Jim Perry version. So if you’re in need to see the early episodes from 1978, here’s your opportunity.

As a disco lover, I’m personally really excited about next week on Pyramid at 6 PM. We’ll be seeing a couple of episodes of the Disco Week of the show, featuring Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Freda Payne, and Joni Sledge!

On February 2, we’ll be seeing the ‘70’s version of Let’s Make A Deal again on weekdays after season 1 of the ‘80’s All-New Let’s Make A Deal has finished. I’m disappointed in this because I’ve really gotten into this version and it’s become a favorite in the Deal franchise and I‘d really like to see the second season, especially the finale with appearances by Joanna Gleason and Jay Stewart; but I do like watching the early 1970’s episodes and it’ll be nice to see some of those again.

February 5 marks the showing of the Password Plus episodes with Jack Narz and from The Young and the Restless, Steven Ford. This last aired around Jack Narz's passing, but if you want to see this week again, there is your chance. It’s a really good one!

Christmas Episodes: Game Show Style

I’ve really had a good time this past week watching Christmas shows of game shows either on GSN’s 12 Days of Christmas this year, or watching some favorite Christmas episodes that I’ve recorded over the past few years.

As much as I agree with anyone that earlier episodes of Wheel of Fortune featured more charm and that it’s a better show without multiple gimmicks and fluff, I do admit that it’s nice looking forward to the Christmas shows ever year. I saw one from December 25, 2006 again and I did find it pretty enjoyable. It seems as though on this episode in particular, the show is more focused on the holiday theme than the extra things, which made it more fun to watch.

I think the Passwords did a really good job at getting into the holiday spirit. I love decorated game show sets, and Password Plus in 1979 did a really good job with theirs, and the Christmas puzzles in the game really help the mood as well. Super Password I enjoy just as much, and knowing that Bert was a singer, it really makes me wish that there was another instance where he sings a Christmas carol or two, like he did (albeit briefly) with “Mele Kalikimaka” in 1984.

Super Password’s 1984 holiday episode brings me to another show, the Pyramid Christmas show from 2003. I have my issues with Donnymid, but I always thought this was a high point in this version of the series. I find it really easy to get cozy and comfortable with the Christmas categories, with EVERY category both in the main games and the winner’s circle being holiday related. It’s one instance I think where the style of writing kind of came in handy. It also makes me wish we could see more of the possible Christmas shows from the Clark eras, including one from $25,000 Pyramid in 1986 -- hint, hint, GSN.

Seeing the holiday episodes of To Tell The Truth from 1990 were a real treat, and seeing them as well as a couple from the Collyer era also make me wish that television syndication was run differently back then, so we could have seen the same style of holiday charm on the 1969-78 version, which I thought were the truly the show’s best years. And as for another panel show, I’ve Got A Secret could really produce some great Christmas cheer.

Million Dollar Password: Season 2 Celeb List

Get ready for season two of Million Dollar Password, which starts December 18th on CBS!
The celebrity guest list is as follows:

Thursday, December 18th: William Shatner, Aisha Tyler
Sunday, December 21st: Phil Keoghan, Julie Chen
Sunday, December 28th: Betty White, Adam Corolla
Sunday, January 4th: Craig Ferguson, Serena Williams
Sunday, January 11th: Norm MacDonald, Jamie Kennedy
Sunday, January 18th: Neil Patrick Harris, Rachael Ray (season one repeat)
Sunday, January 25th: Chelsea Handler, Jeff Garlin
Sunday, February 1st: William Shatner, Aisha Tyler (repeat)

Granted, I’m still getting used to the new format and everything and I still have my issues with it (for instance I still think the set is too busy), but I’m still looking forward to the new season, and the celebrities sound really interesting. William Shatner and Craig Ferguson sound like crazy guests and for William’s sake we should be grateful there are no chairs! I kid, I kid. And it’ll be great to have legend Betty White back for another episode. I am excited for more new Password!

Million Dollar Password: Debut

Sunday night was the premiere for Million Dollar Password, marking the first first-run airing of a version of this show since 1989, hosted by Regis Philbin. Also with celebrity guests Neil Patrick Harris and Rachael Ray.

I find Regis to be a pretty good host on this show, and I had faith in him on this show ever since his name came up.

After seeing Neil Patrick Harris on Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, I just knew that he would not disappoint on this show. I had fun watching Rachael Ray also but she certainly isn't the greatest player. Guess she was right when she said that she's a much better player at home. Though I'm sure we all are, and I still found her fun to watch.

The format is, now... say it with me gang... Pyramid. I refuse to call it "Passamid." Eww, that sounds like a laxative. I'd also like it a bit more if there was some more interaction between the contestants and the celebs, it's one reason why I enjoy the older versions so much. Another nitpick I have... in the million dollar tree part of the game, in the end, what's up with having a word limit AND a clock? Why not just let the team guess the words until the time runs out? I found that a bit redundant.

The minor issues I have are with the music and sound effects. I hate how in this day and age that music seems to be a requirement for everything on game shows, and I found most of the background music to be unnecessary. You don't need it to explain the rules. I also grew tired of the sound effects rather early, in particular, the "pass" sound effect. I'm also not a fan of the set. I understand this is a big prime time game show, but it's just way too busy and dark for my tastes.

I'm not a fan of the format. But maybe it'll grow on me. Then again, considering the company involved with the show, I wasn't expecting a format that would exactly leave me squealing with glee. I do think I'll be enjoying this more for the celebrities and Regis Philbin just as I originally thought. I can't wait to see Betty White, and I even want to see Rosie O'Donnell play. I think we'll be just fine as long as Donald Trump's name isn't brought up.

Password: The Classic Versions

In honor of Million Dollar Password coming next week and since GSN’s only airing Password Plus and Super Password episodes for their marathon, last weekend I thought it’d be nice to pull out some of my episodes of the original CBS version and the two or three I have from the ABC era.

I must say, while the game play is always an important part of the show, and there were some great players on the show… Tony Randall, Elizabeth Montgomery, Betty White… some of the time I enjoyed the show simply for the guests who were there. What a treat it was to have veteran actor Jimmy Stewart on, Carol Channing is always a laugh on these types of shows. There was also Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, Anne Bancroft, Robert Goulet, Jack Paar, Jack Benny, Diahann Carroll, Darren McGavin… just so many fun celebrities to look forward to. And seeing the episodes again, I couldn’t help but notice how lenient the lightning round was… if you blew a word by either saying it or giving more than one word clues on later versions of the show, you were screwed, either by having $1,000 be deducted for every illegal clue on Password Plus, or blowing your chances for the big money entirely on Super Password.

And I had fun watching the 1971 episode that GSN first aired around a year and a half ago with Jack Klugman and the late, great Brett Somers. Considering the fate of the ABC version, whenever I see the episode guide for it, I get a bit annoyed. There were so many great celebrities on this version. Mary Tyler Moore, Elizabeth Montgomery, Mel Torme, Adam West, Larry Blyden, Ed Asner… and there were occasions where both Betty White and Monty Hall sub-hosted. Betty White’s mom also played. It’s things like this that make me hate the old practice of recording over and discarding of tapes.

As far as the new version goes, after hearing how the show’s going to be handled, a big part of me feels right now that for me it’ll be like Donny Osmond’s version of Pyramid in the sense that I’ll pretty much be enjoying this revival for the host and the celebrities a lot more.

It's Password... It's Million Dollar Password!

According to this recent Variety article, it looks like Fremantle is planning on reviving another Goodson-Todman classic game show; this time it’s the word game Password. And that’s not all. The top prize is $1,000,000.

I have to say I’ve always wondered what a revival for this show would be like, and I have always been excited at the idea of a new version (after all, Password is my second favorite game show of all-time, right after Pyramid). The host for it will be Regis Philbin. I can’t see a problem with that. Regis is an experienced host, and I think he’ll do a good job of entertaining the audience as well as keeping the game rolling at a proper pace.

One thing I am worried about is the million dollar factor. The contestants are supposedly betting all their accumulated monies on the million dollar bonus round. But it’s not necessarily the money amount itself that has me worried, though I do think that a million is a bit high for this show. It’s the fear that the people behind it will make the show gimmicky and have it be all about the million and nothing more, and that the game will be an afterthought. Believe me, I love it when the stakes are high as much as anyone, but I honestly feel that $50,000-$100,000 is tension enough. In fact, I think this show screams “syndicate me” much more over “big, huge money value high-stakes network show.”

Some folks have stressed the fact that there aren’t many good celebrities out there for a show like this. To that I have to say that I personally do not care who they get to play as long as they know how to play the game decently. They don’t have to be "A-list" stars. Lack of the most famous people possible has never stopped me from enjoying celebrity based game shows in the past so that won’t be a problem for me now. Of course, the little fanboi that’s in me will squeal in delight if they pick Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles of Supernatural, America Ferrera of Ugly Betty, or Chandra Wilson from Grey’s Anatomy. But truthfully, as long as they are careful and wise in choosing the stars, I will be content. There is only one person in which I think their appearance on this revival is an absolute must, and that is none other than Betty White. If Fremantle and CBS are reading this, please get her. Seriously. Not only was her late husband Allen Ludden, “Mr. Password” himself, but this is also someone who is a loyal friend and true to the game show community, especially to Password.

If they don’t half-ass any of the main game or bonus formats I think they’ll be just fine. I still have my doubts about the million dollar part of it all, but I think it can be pulled off if the game is treated with respect. Please don't pull a Card Sharks '01 on us, Fremantle!